News:
February 10, 2011
Some disgruntled NDC members of Parliament have descended heavily on NPP Flagbearer, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, over his “all die be die” remarks.
The MPs, Hon. David Assuming of Shai Osu-Doku, and Sampson Ahi of Juaboso, say the former Foreign Affairs Minister’s comments were ethnocentric and could incite tribal violence. Nana Akufo-Addo told party supporters in the Eastern Region on Tuesday February 8 that the NPP will not tolerate attempts by members of the NDC to intimidate its members in the 2012 General Elections.
According to him, the NPP was founded by men of courage who are ready to die for the party if need be to wrestle power in 2012.
His comments have since drawn widespread condemnation from some members of the public and party bigwigs of the NDC, with some suggesting the NPP flag bearer may be planning to engineer troubles during the 2012 polls. Hon. Sampson Ahi told Citi News the NDC is equally ready for battle if it becomes necessary.
“You want the mandate to come and serve Ghanaians so you have to sell your message and when they buy your message, you assume the presidency and accept them. So it is not guns or cutlasses that we are going to use to get that mandate. So he should be warned and know that we in the NDC are not children. If he is prepared for war, we will also meet him” he said.
“But I thought that he is a matured politician and I never expected him to make such statements. It is becoming unbecoming of him. I belong to NDC and there are equally rough people who can insult and talk shit like the people in NPP do. But because of the interest of the State, that is why we don’t come out with certain things. But I can assure him that if he wants Ghana to burn in 2012, he will have it because we won’t fold our arms and watch. Even when they were in power we matched them. So NDC matching NPP is a small thing for us. So I just want to advise that he comes out and apologize to Ghanaians for insulting them” he said.
On his part, Hon. David Assuming, MP for Shai Doku, said if Nana Addo fails to apologise, Ghanaians must not take him serious as one who wants to lead the country.
He said the comment has the propensity to scare away potential investors. But the Communications Director of the NPP, Hon. Nana Akomea, has told Citi News the campaign team will not render an apology, insisting that the flagbearer’s comments were rather inspiring.